Joseph Conrad's second book, An Outcast of the Islands, which was
released in 1896, was influenced by the mate-ship experience Conrad had
on the steamship Vidar. The plot of the book centers on Peter Willems, a
dishonest and unscrupulous character who, fleeing a scandal in Makassar,
seeks refuge in a secret native hamlet but betrays his sponsors out of a
passion for the tribal chief's daughter. Along with other characters
from previous novels, Tom Lingard, a recurring figure in the plot, also
appears in Almayer's Folly (1895) and The Rescue (1920). Many people
think it is an unappreciated piece of literature. In a similar manner to
his Heart of Darkness, Conrad romanticizes the jungle and its
inhabitants. Outcast of the Islands, directed by Carol Reed in 1951, was
based on this book. Trevor Howard played Willems, Ralph Richardson
played Lingard, Robert Morley played Robert, and Wendy Hiller played
Wendy. The Hollow Men by T. S. Eliot contains a statement from the novel
that reads, "Life is very long."